The Friendly Schools Friendly Families programme: Three-year bullying behaviour outcomes in primary school children

PurposeThis three-year group randomized controlled trial assessed whether a multi-age, multi-level bullying prevention and intervention with staff capacity building, can reduce bullying among primary school children.MethodsThis study comprised two intervention and one comparison conditions. Student self-report data were collected from 2552 Grades 4 and 6 students at baseline and three posttests.ResultsThe high intervention was more effective than the moderate and low interventions, with significant positive effects for ‘being bullied’ in the Grades 4 and 6 cohorts, for ‘bullying others’ in the Grade 4 cohort and ‘telling if bullied’ in the Grade 6 cohort.ConclusionsComprehensive whole-school programmes that include capacity building and parental involvement appear to reduce bullying behaviour more than programmes without these components.

► We conducted a three-year randomized controlled trial to reduce school bullying.
► We examine changes in primary school children's bullying behaviour.
► High intensity and capacity building interventions reduce bullying victimization.
► High intensity and capacity building interventions reduce bullying perpetration.
► Parent involvement also seems key to reducing bullying behaviours.